Folding walker

ABSTRACT

A folding walker construction having side members swivelly mounted on a front member for movement from an open operative position, to a folded inoperative position to allow for convenient storage when not in use. Improved locking means is provided for maintaining the side members in their open position, in rigid locked relation to the front member; the locking means including release means operative to allow the side members to be moved to their folded overlapping position; the release means being of a character to allow the same to be easily operated with a minimum force requirement.

United States Patent 91 Thomas 14 Jan. 8, 1974 i FOLDING WALKER [76] Inventor: Morton 1. Thomas, 125 South St.,

Monroe, N.Y. 07055 22 Filed: Sept. 24, 1971 211 Appl.No.: 183,360

[52] US. Cl 135/45 A [51] Int. Cl A45b 1/00 [58] Field of Search 135/45 A; 297/254, 297/345; 248/418 [56] Reierences Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,688,789 9/1972 Bunch 135/45 A 2,996,070 8/1961 Ries 135/45 A 2,508,688 5/1950 Rossi 297/254 2,572,072 10/1951 Stoner 297/345 2,796,916 6/1957 Womble 135/45 A Primary ExaminerPeter M. Caun Attorney-Philip G. Hilbert [57] ABSTRACT A folding walker construction having side members swivelly mounted on a front member for movement from an open operative position, to a folded inoperative position to allow for convenient storage when not in use. Improved locking means is provided for maintaining the side members in their open position, in rigid locked relation to the front member; the locking means including release means operative to allow the side members to be moved to their folded overlapping position; the release means being of a character to allow the same to be easily operated with a minimum force requirement.

3 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures PNEHIEU 81974 3,783,886

SHEET 1 BF 2 INVENTOR. Morron I.Thomas ATTORNEY PATENIEI] JAN 81974 SHEET 2 GF 2 FIGS FOLDING WALKER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Folding walker constructions known in the art, are formed of metal tubing bent to provide a pair of leg portions and arranged to be swivelly mounted on a tubular frontal member. In such constructions, means for releasably locking the side leg portions to the frontal member, is provided in the form of spring pressed pins arranged to pass through registering openings in telescopically related tubular portions.

In the advanced spring pressed position, such pins lock the telescopically related portions together. To release the locked portions, in order to allow folding of the side members into overlapping relation, the pins are retracted against the bias of the springs by knobs secured to rear ends of the pins. With a strong spring bias, considerable force and effort is required to retract the pins to their release positions. Since the walkers are normally used by elderly or disabled persons; such individuals may have difficulty in applying the necessary force and effort to retract the locking pins when the walker is to be folded when not in use.

Accordingly, an object of this invention is to provide an improved folding walker construction which includes releasable locking means for rigidly locking the side members thereof to a frontal member by way of a strong spring bias; improved means being provided for retracting the locking means against the bias of the spring; such retracting means being of a character which requires a relatively small force or effort.

Another object of the invention is to provide releasable locking means of the character described where a spring pressed pin is arranged to move axially between locking and release positions, the means for moving the pin including cam means movable in directions at right angles to the axis of the spring pressed pin to thereby markedly reduce the effort required to retract the pin.

A further object of this invention is to provide improved release means for a spring pressed pin arranged to lock a pair of tubular members in telescopic relation against relative movement; the pin being movable to a retracted position to release the tubular members for relative movement, with means for effecting retracted movement of the pin including a cam member engaging the pin and movable over the arcuate outer surface of the outermost tubular member to effect a retracting movement of the pin.

Still another object of this invention is to provide release means of the character described, wherein the cam member is of a curved shape whereby lateral edge portions of the cam slidably engage the convex outer surface of the outermost tubular member to effect a retraction of the locking pin; the cam member including a radially extending lever arm for facilitating the manual operation of the cam member.

Other objects of this invention will in part be obvious and in part hereinafter pointed out.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of a folding walker embodying the invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view thereof;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view thereof, showing the same in its open, operative condition;

FIG. 4 is a top plan view thereof, showing the same in its folded, inoperative condition;

FIG. 5 is a rear elevational view of a portion of the walker, showing the release actuating means;

FIG. 6 is a side elevational view thereof;

FIG. 7 is a transverse sectional view showing the release means in its locking position;

FIG. 8 is a transverse sectional view similar to that of FIG. 7, showing the release means operated to effect retraction of the locking means DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Essentially, the folding walker of the instant invention comprises a pair of side members formed of metal tubing to provide front and rear leg portions; the side members being interconnected by a frontal member also formed of metal tubing and including tubular end portions for telescopically engaging portions of the front leg portions of the side members, whereby the side members are swivelly related to the frontal member for movement between an open operative position and a closed, folded inoperative position.

Further spring pressed pins are provided for disposition in registering openings in the telescoped portions of the front leg portions of the side members and the end portions of the frontal member. The pins in their advanced, spring biased position being effective to lock the side members to the frontal member, while, upon retraction of such pins against the bias of the springs; the membersare in disengaged relation and free for relative movement.

In accordance with the instant invention, improved means is provided for actuating the locking pins; more particularly, to retract the same to their release positions. Such actuating means is of a construction which permits relatively little effort or force to operate the same; thereby imposing minimal physical demands on the users of the walkers, when the same are to be folded when not in use, or for storage.

Thus, as shown in FIGS. 1-4, 10 designates a folding walker embodying the invention. The same comprises a frontal member generally indicated at 1 l and formed of metal tubing and a pair of side members, also formed of metal tubing and swivelly connected to frontal member 11; said side members being generally indicated at 12.

The frontal member 11 comprises a pair of laterally spaced, vertically disposed tubular members 13; said members 13 being interconnected by a horizontally extending tubular member 14. The opposite ends 15 of member 14 are joined to members 13, substantially at the midportion thereof, by welding, brazing or the like.

Each of the side members comprises a bent tubular member 16 of inverted U shape; comprising a horizontal portion 17 to which hand grips 17A are attached; a rearwardly extending leg portion 18 and a forwardly extending leg portion 19. The height of the device 10 may be adjusted by means of tubular sleeve members 20 telescopically mounted on the lower ends of legs l8, 19; the members 20 terminating in tips 21.

The sleeve members 20 are formed with longitudinally spaced openings 22 adapted to selectively register with openings formed in the lower ends of legs 18, 19, not shown. A spring pressed pin 23 is mounted transversely Within the lower ends of legs 18, 19 for snapping into selected openings 22 as the sleeves 20 are adjustably moved along leg portions 18, 19; all in a manner known in the art. On depressing pin 23, sleeve is free for movement relative to legs 18, 19 and when pin 23 snaps into an opening 22; the sleeve 20 is in locked relation to legs 18, 19.

The leg portions l8, 19 are held in fixed spaced relation by cross braces 25 of metal tubing, bent to provide depending end portions 26 which are fixed to legs 18, 19, as by rivets 27.

The upper end portions 28 of front legs 19 are coaxially disposed within tubular members 13 of frontal member 11 to provide for swivel movement of side members 12 relative to frontal member 11, between an open, extended position, as indicated in FIG. 3, and a closed, overlapped position as indicated in FIG. 4.

Releasable locking means, generally indicated at L, is provided for retaining members 11, 12 in a locked relation when the same are in their open, operative position; yet allowing such rigidly interconnected members to be quickly and easily released to allow the same to be folded into compact form,'as indicated in FIG. 4.

To this end, such locking means L comprises a pin 29 disposed transversely of the axes of the coaxially related members 13 and leg portions 28. Pin 29 comprises a head portion 30, an intermediate portion 31 of reduced diameter and a short terminal portion 32. The pin 29 is arranged for projected movement through the bias of a spring and for retraction against the bias of said spring.

The forwardly extending wall of leg portions 28 is formed with an opening 33 adapted to pass the projected head portion of pin 29; and similarly, the upper end of members 13 is formed with an opening 34 which will also pass head 30, when members 11, 12 are in their extended condition and openings 33, 34 are in registration.

The rear portion of pin portion 31 extends through an opening 35 in leg portion 28 which is in alignment with opening 33. Pin portion 31 also extends through an arcuate slot 36 formed in members 13, said slot 36 having an angular extent of about 90.

A coil spring 37 is coaxially disposed on pin portion 31, with its front end bearing on a shoulder 38 at the juncture of pin portion 31 and head 30. The rear end of spring 37 bears against the inner wall surface of leg portion 28 about opening 35. Thus, when side members 12 are in extended position relative to frontal member 11 and openings 33, 34 are in registration, head 30 of pin 29 is spring biased to its projected position to span openings 33, 34; thereby locking said members 11, 12 together.

As spring 37 has a strong biasing action in order to insure a rigid locking condition as between members 12 and member 11; means is provided for retracting pin 29 against the action of spring 37 so as to remove head 30 from opening 34 and thereby release members 12 from member 11 and to allow for swivel movement of members 12 relative to member 11.

Such retracting means is readily actuated with a minimal amount of effort and comprises a cam member generally indicated at 40. Cam member 40 takes the form of a plate 41 of substantially circular configuration and being curved to substantially conform to the curvature of the outer surface of tubular members 13. The cam member 40 is fixedly attached at a central point therein to the terminal end of pin portion 32 whose outer end is peened over.

A lever arm 42 extends radially from plate 41 and terminates in a finger hold 43 extending at right angles to lever arm 42 at the outer end thereof. Assuming that the members 12 are in extended, locked relation to member 11, with pins 29 spring biased to their projected positions; such pins are readily and easily retracted by turning plates 41 by way of lever arms 42 in either direction. Such movement of plates 41 causes the side edges 44 of plates 41 to engage the outer surface of tubular members 13 with a camming action effective to retract plates 41 with respect to members 13 and thereby retracting pins 29. Minimal effort is required to turn plates 41 by way of lever arms 42 despite the strong bias of springs 37.

With pins 29 in their retracted positions, see FIG. 8, head 30 is disengaged from members 13, thus allowing side members 12 to swivel relative to frontal member 11. The arcuate slots 36 in members 13 allow pin portions 31 to move therethrough during the swivelling movements of side members 12.

When side members 12 are moved from their folded positions to their extended open positions; pins 29 are spring biased automatically to their projected, locking positions when openings 33, 34 are in registry.

It will be apparent that retraction of locking pins 29 by way of lever arms 42 and cam plates 41 may be effected with minimal effort so that the same may be performed by aged or infirm users of walker 10.

I claim:

1. In a folding walker, a pair of relatively rotatable coaxial cylindrical tubular members, said members having openings in wall portions thereof for registration when one of said members is rotated relative to the other member to dispose said members in a predetermined angular relation to each other, and means for releasably locking said members together when said members are in said predetermined angular relation to each other, said locking means comprising a locking pin disposed transversely of the axis of said members, said pin being arranged for advanced axial movement to locate the forward end thereof in the registering openings in said members, to thereby prevent relative rotation of said members, said pin being retractable to withdraw the forward end thereof from the opening in the innermost of said members to permit relative rotation of said members, spring means for biasing said pin to its advanced position, and a cam member for retracting said pin, said cam member comprising a curved plate having an axial portion thereof connected to the rear end of said pin, said plate having a curvature complementary to the curvature of the outermost of said tubular members, and being turnable about the axis thereof between first and second positions thereof, said plate including curved peripheral camming edge portions which are in slightly spaced relation to opposed surface portions of the outermost tubular member when said plate is in its first position and in engaged camming to opposed surface portions of said outermost tubular member when said plate is turned to its second position whereby to outwardly displace said plate and thereby retract said pin.

2. A walker as in claim 1 and further including means for actuating said cam member, said actuating means comprising lever means extending radially from an edge portion of said cam member disposed intermediate the first mentioned edge portions thereof.

3. A walker as in claim 2 wherein said portions of the tubular leg members are formed with an opening and said vertically positioned tubular members are formed with a laterally extending slot registering with said last mentioned opening in the tubular leg members, the rear portion of said locking pin passing through said registering opening and slot. 

1. In a folding walker, a pair of relatively rotatable coaxial cylindrical tubular members, said members having openings in wall portions thereof for registration when one of said members is rotated relative to the other member to dispose said members in a predetermined angular relation to each other, and means for releasably locking said members together when said members are in said predetermined angular relation to each other, said locking means comprising a locking pin disposed transversely of the axis of said members, said pin being arranged for advanced axial movement to locate the forward end thereof in the registering openings in said members, to thereby prevent relative rotation of said members, said pin being retractable to withdraw the forward end thereof from the opening in the innermost of said members to permit relative rotation of said members, spring means for biasing said pin to its advanced position, and a cam member for retracting said pin, said cam member comprising a curved plate having an axial portion thereof connected to the rear end of said pin, said plate having a curvature complementary to the curvature of the outermost of said tubular members, and being turnable about the axis thereof between first and second positions thereof, said plate including curved peripheral camming edge portions which are in slightly spaced relation to opposed surface portions of the outermost tubular member when said plate is in its first position and in engaged camming to opposed surface portions of said outermost tubular member when said plate is turned to its second position whereby to outwardly displace said plate and thereby retract said pin.
 2. A walker as in claim 1 and further including means for actuating said cam member, said actuating means comprising lever means extending radially from an edge portion of said cam member disposed intermediate the first mentioned edge portions thereof.
 3. A walker as in claim 2 wherein said portions of the tubular leg members are formed with an opening and said vertically positioned tubular members are formed with a laterally extending slot registering with said last mentioned opening in the tubular leg members, the rear portion of said locking pin passing through said registering opening and slot. 